Chapter 91 (2)
Mai laughed.
"He's been like this since we were children. Every boy who looked at me twice received the full protective older-cousin treatment. I'm surprised he isn't carrying a weapon."
Kai gave her an offended look.
"I am carrying a weapon. I'm always carrying a weapon. That isn't the point."
"Then what is the point?" Mai asked sweetly.
Kai's expression softened.
"The point is that you're my family, Mai. You and your mother are the only family I have left. I'm not going to let anyone hurt you, take advantage of you, or treat you as anything less than the remarkable person you are. If that makes me overprotective, then I'm overprotective. I can live with that."
A moment later, Kai chuckled and shook his head.
"For the record, I'm not coming because I think Elijah is going to try anything. I simply wanted to spend some time with both of you. It's been too long since the three of us could sit together."
Elijah looked at him with genuine surprise. Kai usually expressed affection through actions rather than words, which made the sincerity in his voice particularly meaningful.
"I'm glad you're here," Elijah said.
The restaurant they chose was a small establishment on the edge of the 7th District. It was the kind of family-owned place that had been serving the same recipes for generations without caring about trends or the opinions of critics. The owner greeted Kai by name when they entered and led them to a quiet table near the back.
Before long, the table was crowded with food.
Conversation flowed naturally throughout the meal. Kai discussed the gang's finances and the numbers Rena had provided that morning, while Mai talked about the bar, the new customers arriving after its renovation, and the loyal patrons who had refused to leave despite the neighborhood changing around them.
"Everyone seems to be doing well," Mai said while twirling pasta around her fork. "Henry is still training every day, Aurora is still running the club with an iron fist, and Tristan is still flirting with every woman who crosses his path. Somehow, it feels as though nothing has changed even though almost everything has changed."
Elijah smiled.
"And Jack? How is he settling in?"
Kai reached for another piece of bread.
"He's still adjusting. After so many years of working alone, becoming part of an organization is probably strange for him. Still, he's making an effort. He's been helping Henry with training and spending time with the other Vice Leaders so he can understand how we operate."
The conversation eventually drifted toward ordinary matters, including the weather, the news, and the small dramas of daily life that seemed insignificant compared with the larger conflicts surrounding them.
Elijah found himself relaxing more than he had expected, the tension gradually leaving his shoulders as Kai and Mai argued over something completely meaningless.
Then Mai suddenly looked up.
"Oh, I almost forgot. Didn't you tell me you met someone named Trevor at the dirt bike track? The one with the brown eyes and expensive clothes?"
Elijah nodded.
"Yeah. Trevor seemed like a good guy. We exchanged numbers, but I haven't contacted him since the attack and everything that followed."
Kai leaned forward, his interest immediately sharpening.
"Trevor from the 6th District? Tall, dark hair, drives a modified sports car?"
"I don't know about the car, but he said he lived in the 6th District and worked for his family's business. Why?"
Kai smiled.
"I know of him. He's one of the best drivers in the 6th District, and possibly one of the best in the entire city. He races on the underground circuits almost every night. I've watched him a few times, and the man is incredible. He can make a car do things that shouldn't be possible."
Elijah's interest immediately grew.
"He mentioned racing, but he didn't give me many details. I assumed he was keeping it casual."
"That's Trevor," Kai replied. "He doesn't brag. He lets his driving speak for him."
Mai looked between them with growing excitement.
"Are you thinking about watching one of his races? I've never seen an underground race before, and it actually sounds fun."
Elijah smiled.
"Would you like to go? We could make a night of it."
Kai interrupted before Mai could answer.
"Watching is boring. If you're going, you should enter the race yourself."
Elijah raised an eyebrow.
"I don't have a car suitable for racing. Mine is fine for getting around the city, but it isn't built for speed or handling. I'd be outclassed immediately."
A knowing smile spread across Kai's face.
"Finish your dinner," he said as he pulled out his wallet. "I want to show you something."
Several minutes later, they stepped into the cool night air and walked through the quiet streets of the 7th District. Kai led them toward a multi-story parking garage Elijah had passed countless times without ever paying attention to it.
When they reached the third level, Kai pressed a button on his key fob.
A car's headlights flashed in the darkness.
Elijah stopped walking.
Under the fluorescent lights sat a sleek sports car painted a deep blue.
Its low body and wide tires gave it an aggressive appearance, while the engine produced a deep mechanical hum that seemed almost alive.
It was not the kind of extravagant vehicle wealthy elites displayed in the 1st District, but it was clearly designed for speed, acceleration, and precise handling.
"Kai," Elijah said slowly, "what is this?"
Kai's smile widened.
"This is your new car."
Elijah stared at him.
"We saved for it using the money you won from the death matches and the profits the gang has earned over the past month. Everyone contributed. Henry, Aurora, Tristan, Jack, Mai, Rena, and the others all knew about it, and everyone wanted to be part of giving you something."
Elijah approached the vehicle slowly, his fingers brushing across the smooth paint as he examined its lines.
The engine continued to hum quietly, promising speed and the kind of thrill he had not experienced since the night he first climbed onto the dirt bike with Lisa and Amy.
"We were going to wait until after your fight with Daniel," Mai explained as she stepped beside him, "but Kai thought you might want to use it for the race if you decide to enter. Honestly, I think he was simply too excited to keep the secret anymore."
Elijah turned toward them.
For a moment, he could not find the right words.
These were the people who had stood beside him from the beginning. They had fought with him, bled with him, trusted him, and followed him through every victory and setback. Now they had pooled their own money to give him something simply because they believed he deserved it.
"Thank you," Elijah finally said, his voice rough with emotion. "All of you. This means more to me than you know."
Kai shrugged, although the smile on his face never disappeared.
"You're our leader, Elijah. You've risked everything for us more times than I can count. The least we can do is make sure you have a car that matches your ambition."
Elijah laughed, the sound echoing through the quiet parking garage. He stepped forward and clasped Kai's shoulder firmly, conveying more through the gesture than words could have managed.
For the first time that night, Elijah looked at the car not as a machine, but as a gift from the people who had chosen to stand beside him.
And somehow, that made it worth far more than its price.